Responsibility

1 Kings 21:25, 27, 29 ESV

There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited…And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth an went about dejectedly…because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring about the disaster in his days;…

As I listen to the news summarizing a legal dispute between Oklahoma and a native American concerning the jurisdiction of his tribe and the reservation standing of certain land, the reporter giving the summary said a most amazing statement. She made the comment “of course, congress can work out conflicts IF IT would only do it.” This small statement set my head spinning. I know it to be true as many others but we often fail to give Congress its due. Preparing for another election cycle sparked Bethany to ask her mom, “When you turn eighteen do you have to vote?” In answering that question Kelly had to say no, but she was responsible weather she voted or not.

Coming back to the Congress of the United States, we rarely place responsibility firmly on them. Why? They are the single most powerful body in the United States. Does their failure to act make them not responsible for what transpires? As President after President continues to consolidate power under himself and Supreme Court Ruling after Supreme Court Ruling legislates new laws, who has the authority and responsibility to act? Does failure to act absolve one of the responsibilities for the consequences?

As a 19 year-old man lays dead in the CHOP zone of Seattle, are not the Protestors that would not allow emergency personnel in to treat the victim responsible for that loss of life? Of course, they are responsible for the death that man, they were the secondary cause of his death. So, to is congress. By refusal to act when it is their responsibility to act, they are culpable.

Does what has transpired prior to absolve persons of responsibility in the presence? Simply because my brother hit me am I then not responsible for my actions in retaliation? Of course not, my actions become understandable but I do not become innocent of them.

Looking at the text about Ahab, I have to wonder, is Ahab going to be in heaven? You see, he was manipulated by his wife, time and again he followed her like Adam did Eve, and found himself further in sin. God confronted him with the reality of his sin and he did the most unexpected thing. He listened, took responsibility, and humbled himself. He did not say “the woman you gave me, gave me fruit” or pass the buck in anyway. And what does God do, despite all that had come before, all the wickedness he had sown, all the men he had killed, God still has mercy on him! Man is always responsible in and of himself for his actions, it does not matter what has come before. Did God show mercy to the point that Ahab will be in heaven? I can’t answer, but God shows us that even he had a trait worthy of resemblance.

The Christian must look at all this and realize that we are responsible for our actions, not the actions of others, no matter what influence they may have over us or our lives, our actions, our thoughts, and our words, are just that, OURS. We have authority and power over them and our only hope for mercy is the humility of owning them and repenting of the sin is found in them.

Coram Deo